One trick I've learned is that you CAN set the recording to run long if you do a series recordings it is one of the extended options.
I learned this after several episodes of Lost ran long and I missed the cliff hangers. I now program it to take for an extra 5 minutes per episode. Most times it is extra nothing, but every so often it is critical.
Deb Dib
· 1 year ago
Did EXACTLY the same thing -- thought we were SO smart missing all the commercials and some of the lame acts. Thought we were smart until the DVR stopped recording and shut down the TV at EXACTLY the wrong time. Next year I set it manually to run to ten minutes after the hour!
Alan Wolk
· 1 year ago
Ha! My wife and I were out last night and came home thinking we'd watch the crucial last 10 minutes.
FIOS actually recorded the announcement of the winner... and then cut out about 30 seconds later. (Good thing there's YouTube!)
The trick is to remember to tell the device to add 5 minutes onto the end of the show. Which is unfortunately one of those programming tricks only the engineer who designed it is actually capable of doing!
(Funny that we both did posts on AI tonight- completely different tacks, but same umbrella.)
Jared M. Spool
· 1 year ago
Sorry about missing the end of Idol. The run-long trick is a good hack, but the real problem is that the networks (who are well aware of how long it is) don't want to play nice with the DVR companies, because, well, they seem them as a mortal enemy.
Which brings me to a different point: It's interesting that you, as someone well entrenched in the marketing/advertising world, laud the DVR for its ability to skip the ads -- the thing that pays for the shows you enjoy. Out of curiosity, (and I ask with an earnest respect,) how do you reconcile that?
Jared
Mario Vellandi
· 1 year ago
How technology can trap us into its ways and intricacies.
Since this is a case where the tech disappoints (I would assume inherent to all DVRs, no matter the brand), the best thing a company can do is create a best practices / tips infosheet. This can come with the unit (or bundled package), or be part of a mailing (best not bundled with the Bill though, as it likely won't get read).
Although I don't have DVR, I will try and remember that 5sec trick :)
Gavin Heaton
· 1 year ago
Take a step back from the technology ... look. It is the content. It sucks us in ... the human drama -- triumphs and tragedy. Embarrassment lives cheek by jowl with euphoria.
Tech failures remind us what is important. That sense of belonging and connection.
Virginia Miracle
· 1 year ago
Our Direct TV DVR caught the announcement of David Cook and then cut off before we get to hear him sing. So, my last impression of him is him singing with those totally current chart toppers ZZTOP (AI producers - is ZZ Top relevant? Reeeeeeally?)
Are the content providers like Fox trying to do this intentionally to discourage time shifting on "water cooler" shows like the AI or are they completely incapable of running a live broadcast? Maybe they could have cut also super relevant modern superstars Donna Summer or Bryan Adams 1 minute short and tried to end on time.
Jay
· 1 year ago
As I tweeted, in fan circles for AI (like the Usemet newsgroup) some advance warning floated around that the show was expected to go long. It's become almost the norm anyway, between shows that are live and shows trying to muck with next hour competition on other networks.
Jay
· 1 year ago
Er, that's Usenet. I figured Firefox underlined it red just because it didn't recognize the term, not noticing the m.
Ann Handley
· 1 year ago
Well, now we are all the wiser.... Good to know I wasn't the only one completely flummoxed!
@Jared: Yeah, I realize the irony of me saying as much... but so many TV ads are just plain excruciating. There were a few ads we actually stopped the DVR to watch, however: including the Coldplay/iTunes (Viva La Vida) spot. Is the onus on me to watch bad ads? Or on brands... to produce compelling ones?
Cam Beck
· 1 year ago
Normally I would forbear plugging a client in the comments of a friend's blog, but in this case it is actually relevant.
While doing research on Tivo after we got the account, I found out that their technology allows you to set your record time to a few minutes before and a few minutes after its designated timeslot - just in case it goes over. That's a big boon to those who like to watch competitions (sports or otherwise).
That said, I feel your pain. What we have never seems to be quite enough. :)
Jared M. Spool
· 1 year ago
Ann wrote:
Is the onus on me to watch bad ads? Or on brands… to produce compelling ones?
I'm going to guess that nobody in the advertising world says, "Hey, this client really wants one bad ad. Let's give it to them. Go for it!"
So, the real question isn't about the onus to produce compelling ads, but an understanding of what that really means. Add to that (a) we can't really tell, out of the gate, which ads are compelling or not (because if we could, we'd never make the non-compelling ones, right?) and (b) as far as I can tell, we get the same response from the bad ones as from the compelling ones, so there's no reward system for the compelling ones.
The advertising world is going to be challenged more and more as technology gives individuals a way to opt out.
Dan Schawbel
· 1 year ago
This post makes me feel really bad for the social network called Bebo (Comcast acquired them).
Ann Handley
· 1 year ago
Jared: Well, I don't think folks in advertising are going out of their way to make a non-compelling ad, but as you say, technology is changing the way individuals are reacting to advertising, both bad or good. And that means that, increasingly, advertisers HAVE to be in tune on a whole nuther level. The good stuff, we sit through. Evan (why does the guy always get the clicker?) actually *stopped* the Fast Forward to view the iTunes ad I mentioned earlier. The bad stuff... fuhgeddedabouit. So I think there's an increasing pressure to create advertising that folks DON'T FF thru.. which I guess is basically what you said.
Jill
· 1 year ago
Sure sounds like some sort of evil plot from Fox to get you to watch the commercials next time!
Dusan Vrban
· 1 year ago
I'm using computer (with Media center) and extending every recording for at least 30 minutes before and after. There's just sooooooo much disk space. :-)
Yet I hate my mobile for it resets at worst possible times. When I just need to make that urgent call...
Technology actually sucks, even tough I'm kinda techno-freak. I can remember when I was young. Our parents would meet with friends at least 3 times a week, having fun, picnic, parties. No social networking, no rush, no speed. Commercials? Cool, time to talk to each other, have a drink. See that new TV star presenting that new car. :-)
Today we have tools to make us "efficient". Yet they just make us dependent, as you have pointed out, Ann.
Christian Gulliksen
· 1 year ago
All these people are much smarter than me -- I added Hell's Kitchen (which follows AI) to my record list and always managed to catch the last bit of the show that way. The low-tech workaround. But you're right -- technology is cool, except when it isn't.
DVRs are great because I'm never home for the shows I want and I was always lousy with VCRs. I do skip past most commercials -- but I'll watch them once in a while when an ad looks interesting.
Karen Swim
· 1 year ago
Ann, I can so relate! I l have TiVos now joined by and ATT DVR (dumped Comcast). We do become dependent on technology and rail against it when it fails us. I did learn the extended trick which must infuriate the networks who make their shows run long so we won't change the channel. My ATT DVR tapes 3 shows at a time so once again I've beaten the networks. :-) Great post Ann!
Kristin Gorski
· 1 year ago
Ah, technology. DVRs are too precise, Twitter can't handle its tweets, and Technorati hasn't updated most blogs' links in months (perhaps years).
Yet we just keep comin' back for more.
Your post really got me thinking: I used to think we had a choice when it comes to technology, but I don't think we do any more. We are so dependent, as you and many commenters state.
This worries me: Those of us who work in tech a lot have to be wary of technology monopolies (like Technorati) because when it breaks, we have nothing else to fall back on, and we depend on it. In the tech marketplace, often the first and fastest get the largest market share, but what if, well, those companies are horrible and inefficient?
Anyone out there starting a new Technorati? (Just wondering.....)
pete
· 1 year ago
C.C. reminds me of something I used to do when setting the VCR timer. (yes, there was ad-skipping before the DVR.) But at my house we ran into the exact same issue, Ann. There must be a tech adoption cycle documented somewhere from the consumer perspective - don't need it, I'll try it, can't live without it, doesnt do everything I want, ok I'll deal with it. Or something like that.
Liz
· 1 year ago
Technology, can't live with it, can't live without it :-) :-(
Kristi
· 1 year ago
A general question - has our "quality time" as a culture slipped so much that sitting in front of the tv as a family counts as such?
I grew up in the 70's on a farm...with 2 tv stations. Other than my dad watching the news for weather reports, it was rarely on. We read a lot, worked outside together and talked to one another. I'm trying to do the same thing in my family now. We've banned the use of technology that makes tv "easier" from the house.
Most of our friends think we're crazy - and we're in IT and marketing, so it looks even more so. I sometimes feel like we might be missing out, then we go for a walk together as a family after dinner, knowing American Idol is on, and I just couldn't care less.
All Comments
I learned this after several episodes of Lost ran long and I missed the cliff hangers. I now program it to take for an extra 5 minutes per episode. Most times it is extra nothing, but every so often it is critical.
FIOS actually recorded the announcement of the winner... and then cut out about 30 seconds later. (Good thing there's YouTube!)
The trick is to remember to tell the device to add 5 minutes onto the end of the show. Which is unfortunately one of those programming tricks only the engineer who designed it is actually capable of doing!
(Funny that we both did posts on AI tonight- completely different tacks, but same umbrella.)
Which brings me to a different point: It's interesting that you, as someone well entrenched in the marketing/advertising world, laud the DVR for its ability to skip the ads -- the thing that pays for the shows you enjoy. Out of curiosity, (and I ask with an earnest respect,) how do you reconcile that?
Jared
Since this is a case where the tech disappoints (I would assume inherent to all DVRs, no matter the brand), the best thing a company can do is create a best practices / tips infosheet. This can come with the unit (or bundled package), or be part of a mailing (best not bundled with the Bill though, as it likely won't get read).
Although I don't have DVR, I will try and remember that 5sec trick :)
Tech failures remind us what is important. That sense of belonging and connection.
Are the content providers like Fox trying to do this intentionally to discourage time shifting on "water cooler" shows like the AI or are they completely incapable of running a live broadcast? Maybe they could have cut also super relevant modern superstars Donna Summer or Bryan Adams 1 minute short and tried to end on time.
@Jared: Yeah, I realize the irony of me saying as much... but so many TV ads are just plain excruciating. There were a few ads we actually stopped the DVR to watch, however: including the Coldplay/iTunes (Viva La Vida) spot. Is the onus on me to watch bad ads? Or on brands... to produce compelling ones?
While doing research on Tivo after we got the account, I found out that their technology allows you to set your record time to a few minutes before and a few minutes after its designated timeslot - just in case it goes over. That's a big boon to those who like to watch competitions (sports or otherwise).
That said, I feel your pain. What we have never seems to be quite enough. :)
I'm going to guess that nobody in the advertising world says, "Hey, this client really wants one bad ad. Let's give it to them. Go for it!"
So, the real question isn't about the onus to produce compelling ads, but an understanding of what that really means. Add to that (a) we can't really tell, out of the gate, which ads are compelling or not (because if we could, we'd never make the non-compelling ones, right?) and (b) as far as I can tell, we get the same response from the bad ones as from the compelling ones, so there's no reward system for the compelling ones.
The advertising world is going to be challenged more and more as technology gives individuals a way to opt out.
Yet I hate my mobile for it resets at worst possible times. When I just need to make that urgent call...
Technology actually sucks, even tough I'm kinda techno-freak. I can remember when I was young. Our parents would meet with friends at least 3 times a week, having fun, picnic, parties. No social networking, no rush, no speed. Commercials? Cool, time to talk to each other, have a drink. See that new TV star presenting that new car. :-)
Today we have tools to make us "efficient". Yet they just make us dependent, as you have pointed out, Ann.
DVRs are great because I'm never home for the shows I want and I was always lousy with VCRs. I do skip past most commercials -- but I'll watch them once in a while when an ad looks interesting.
Yet we just keep comin' back for more.
Your post really got me thinking: I used to think we had a choice when it comes to technology, but I don't think we do any more. We are so dependent, as you and many commenters state.
This worries me: Those of us who work in tech a lot have to be wary of technology monopolies (like Technorati) because when it breaks, we have nothing else to fall back on, and we depend on it. In the tech marketplace, often the first and fastest get the largest market share, but what if, well, those companies are horrible and inefficient?
Anyone out there starting a new Technorati? (Just wondering.....)
I grew up in the 70's on a farm...with 2 tv stations. Other than my dad watching the news for weather reports, it was rarely on. We read a lot, worked outside together and talked to one another. I'm trying to do the same thing in my family now. We've banned the use of technology that makes tv "easier" from the house.
Most of our friends think we're crazy - and we're in IT and marketing, so it looks even more so. I sometimes feel like we might be missing out, then we go for a walk together as a family after dinner, knowing American Idol is on, and I just couldn't care less.